Toyota has revealed the Yaris Cross and suggested there’s a chance it might hit NZ before Xmas.

THAT funky looking baby Toyota crossover you had your heart set on?

Good news. It might yet be here by Xmas. With emphasis on the word ‘might’.

In tandem with Toyota’s overnight international unveiling of the Yaris Cross, Toyota New Zealand has re-stated intent to have the car on sale before the end of 2020.

However, it shouldn’t be taken as a absolute hard and fast promise, the exact quote being: “Toyota New Zealand expects to introduce this model towards the end of 2020.” So, if you’re aching to have one as a Christmas pressie … maybe also consider a Plan B.

That timeframe is months behind the original expectation, but is pretty good effort nonetheless if achieved.

This car, remember, was likely the world’s first automotive victim of coronavirus, having been pulled last minute from being revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in the first week of March. Sorry, make that the virtual Geneva show, because the actual event was also cancelled days before opening by … well, the same thing. 

At that time, too, the brand was so publicly pessimistic about the production timeframes it left impression right-hand-drive markets might not see it until 2021. Which might, of course, still be the case, given that most of the major RHD recipients are reporting just that timeframe.

Let’s hope for TNZ’s sake it makes the boat this year. Even though the new car market is heading toward massive bust – with prediction of being at least 40 percent down on last year – after some really good years, the small crossover and sports utility sector had really been hitting its stride prior to Covid-19 lockdown. Conceivably, then, if any cars are going to be sold, the chances of them being from this category have to be fairly good, not least when it has the extra twists of a hybrid drivetrain and a high tech all-wheel-drive.

The car’s make-up has been touched upon before, but just to recap: It’s a crossover built on the same 'GA-B' compact car platform as the imminent new fourth-generation Yaris hatchback. It promises more space, increased ride height and even the option of four-wheel drive. With a twist: It’s an electric motor-driven system.

Today’s photos are of the hybrid in flagship form, on 18-inch wheels that provide a nice finishing touch to a styling that’s neatly adopts the same wheelarch shape and rising door sill detailing that have taken the RAV4 to new heights. An upright nose and vent design, sharp creasing and high-tech lighting also mark it out as a street cred champion.

In terms of size, the Yaris Cross sits on the same wheelbase as the new Yaris, but is actually 240 millimetres longer. A bigger proportion of that has been added behind the rear wheels (180mm), which should mean a larger boot. It is also 20mm wider (presumably due to the arches) and 90mm higher. And, usefully, it has 30mm more ground clearance, too.

At 390 litres, the boot volume is a touch more than the equivalent Yaris hatch. The rear seat backs split 40:20:40 and there's a variable boot floor arrangement to help make the most of the space. A powered tailgate will apparently be available.

About that all-wheel-drive. Toyota calls it 'AWD-i', for intelligent. It certainly is. The system uses an electric motor to turn the rear wheels, supplementing the regular powertrain up front in the car. Apparently, it operates when pulling away from rest and accelerating, but otherwise only when traction at the front axle is limited.

Yaris Cross has the same powertrain choices as the hatch, meaning 1.0- and 1.5-litre three-cylinder petrol engines. TNZ has previously explained that its focus is on the latter, which is, according to the maker, more thermally efficient than a typical diesel engine. This further fuels the claim that the hybrid edition is 20 percent more efficient than the engine in the outgoing Yaris Hybrid. The brand says it also seemingly has the 'world's fastest combustion speed'. Does that translate into decent low-down torque?

Nothing has been revealed about the hybrid side’s electric motor, save that it is lighter and more compact than before, in part through it eschewing a nickel-metal hydride battery for a 27 per ent lighter lithium-ion item, which also allows more power to the motor more often. Maximum system power is quoted at 76kW. Toyota also says that the CO2 figures are 120g/km for the front-drive model and 135g/km for the AWD, on WLTP assessment.

The spec? A lot has to be finalised, but the car has been configured to offer a large wireless device charger, heated steering wheel and big head-up display. Touchscreen infotainment is likely to be present on most versions, as is a generous suite of active safety functions, under the 'Toyota Safety Sense' umbrella.